Medicinal plaster or bandage



Dec. 22, 1959 w- M, SCHQLL 2,918,062

MEDICIN'AL PLASTER 0R BANDAGE Filed July :50, 1958 LFE.' afar' W/l//amM. lSalza/ United States Patent O MEDICINAL PLASTER OR BANDAGE WilliamM. Scholl, Chicago, lll.

Application July 30, 1958, Serial No. 752,058

8 Claims. (Cl. 12S-153) This invention relates to improvements in amedicinal or surgical plaster or bandage and is particularly desirableas a digital bandage for application to a linger or toe to alleviateafliictions of the general character of excrescences, corns, calluses,warts, as well as other afflictions such as cuts or abrasions, althoughthe device will have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to oneskilled in the art.

In the past, many and various types of plasters or bandages of thepressure-relieving type have been developed, but in many cases thesebandages while capable of transferring the pressure of an article ofapparel or the like to healthy tissue surrounding an affliction, were ofsuch construction that the pressure-eliminating portion of the plasteror bandage itself caused some irritation. In other cases, these bandagesif the pressure-relieving portion had a cavity or aperture to receive anaffliction, were of such construction that a medicament placed over theafliiction would not be in sufficiently close proximity to theaffliction, and frequently such items were of such construction that asudden application of pressure directly over the afiction was notcushioned or rendered at least partially ineffectual by the plasteritself. In other instances, these formerly known bandages did not fit aparticular portion of the body, such as a digit, with an effectivenicety, but would overlap a digit and extend sidewise to an extent thatthe bandage would cause irritation to, or possibly be disrupted byadjacent digits.

With the foregoing in mind, -it is an important object of the instantinvention to provide a digital plaster or bandage in which thepressure-relieving portion of the device is provided with opposed edgessubstantially paralleling the side edges of the digit to which thebandage is applied.

vAnother object of the instant invention resides in the provision of amedical or surgical plaster or bandage having a body part or pad ofcushioning material with an affliction-receiving cavity therein, andwith a medicated plug or tab in the cavity and also providing acushioning action.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a plasteror bandage having a pressure-relieving portion of cushioning materialwith an aiiiiction-receiving cavity therein, in which cavity is disposeda medicated tab in such manner and of such construction as to bring themedication into close proximity with the afliiction itself.

Still another object of the instant invention is the provision of aplaster or bandage incorporating a pressurerelieving pad having anaffliction-receiving cavity therein, and a medicated tab of nappedfabric disposed in the cavity in such manner that the napping on the tabfunctions as a shock-absorbing medium against sudden pressures applieddirectly over the ailliction.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantagesof the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will becomeapparent from the fol- Patented Dec. a2, 195e ICC lowing disclosures,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a plaster or bandage embodying principles ofthe instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the structure of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially asindicated by the line III-III of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of thearrows; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of thecharacter of Fig. 3, but showing a slightly different form ofconstruction.

As shown on the drawings:

The illustrated embodiments of the instant invention are purposely shownenlarged beyond their most usual size for purposes of clarity. It Willbe understood that in actual manufacture the bandage or plaster may bemade of any desirable size, but in most instances will be madeexceedingly smaller than the illustrations, so as to adequately litaround a digit such as a toe or linger.

The first illustrated embodiment of the instant invention, seen in Figs.l, 2 and 3, includes an attaching strip 1 which is relatively narrow inits end portions, but which is preferably provided with an enlargedintermediate portion as indicated at 2. Throughout its entire length,this strip is preferably provided on its under face with apressure-sensitive adhesive spread 3. This attaching -strip may be madeof any suitable material but is preferably made of a waterproof materialand is imperforate throughout. By way of example, the strip could be athermoplastic film, a thin plastic-coated fabric, or the equivalent. Itis preferably of a length to wrap entirely around a digit with the endsslightly overlapped.

Secured by the adhesive under surface 3 to the under side of theenlarged portion 2 of the strip 1 is a pressureeliminating pad or bodypart 4. This may be made of any suitable cushioning material such'A asfelt, foam latex, thermoplastic or chemical foam, or theequivalent. Asseen best in Fig. 2, the forward and reari edges of the pad 4 arepreferably arcuate or curvate as indicated at 5, while the opposed sideedges of the pad are preferably straight, as indicated at 6 6, theseside edges therefore substantially paralleling the sides of a digit suchas a finger or toe. The pad 4 itself may lie directly upon the digit butwill not project beyond the digit in a manner to cause spacing betweendigits, irritation to an adjacent digit, or disruption or loosening ofthe pad by contact with an adjacent digit, as would be the case if thepad were completely circular. The pad is preferably provided with anaffliction-receiving cavity 7 therein which may be of any suitable sizeor shape, but which in the illustrated instance is shown in the form ofan aperture, and the pad is of sutlcient thickness that an afliictionsuch as a corn or the like may be received within the cavity 7 and thepressure of an article of apparel transferred to adjacent surroundinghealthy tissue. On its under face, the pad is also preferably providedwith 'a spread of pressure-sensitive adhesive as seen at 8 in Fig. 3, tobetter insure the pad remaining in its desired position during use.

As seen best in Fig. 1, the marginal portions of the pad 4 adjacent therounded edges 5-5 thereof preferably project beyond the enlarged portion2 of the strip 1. This facilitates proper positioning of the pad on thebody of a user.

In order to relieve and aid in the cure of the particular aiiction, amedicated plug or tab is preferably disposed in theraffliction-receiving cavity of the pad 4 in position to overlie thealictin itself. This tab or plug may be held in position by the adhesiveunder surface of the attaching strip 1, or it may be held in position byfriction alone. As seen best in Fig. 3, the plug or tab comprises afabric sheet 9 which is napped on one side as indicated zit-10, Aandpreferably this napping is rela-y tively heavy. In this particularembodiment of the invention, the napped side ofthe fabric is disposeduppermost, and on the smooth under side of the fabric a ,suitablemedicament 11 Vis provided. AWhile in the yillustrated showing themedicament is in the' nature of a spread on the under side ofthe tab inorder to facilitate illustration, it will be understoodathat the padmight be impregnated with someisuitable medication, if 'so desired.Further, it should-be noted that the medicated tab is thinner o'r ofless thickness than the cushioning pad 4 so as to leave space inthecavity 7 for reception of the aliction. The structure of the medicatedtab brings the medicament in closer proximity to, or in contact with theaffliction, whereby full benefit of the medicament may be acquired. Inaddition,`it will be noted` that the napping on the fabric tab willprovide a cushioning 4effect and act as a shock absorber if throughinadvertence times, in the past with previously constructed plasters orbandages, irritation of the aiiction was caused by wearing apparelforcing the cover or attaching strip inwardly in the region o'f theafliiction-receiving cavity, so that there was a disagreeable amount ofrubbing on the affliction itself. Such irritation or rubbing with theinstant invention will be eliminated by virtue of the yielding characterof the napping on the medicated tab.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a slightly different arrangement, whereinthe general structure is the same as above described. 4In this instance,however, the medicated tab is reversed in position, with the fabricportion 9 uppermost, and the napping 10 depending therefrom, themedicament 11 being applied to the napping 10 rather than to the smoothside of the fabric. This may be more desirable in connection withcertain types of afllictions.

In use, the instant invention may be easily and quickly applied to adigit over an aiiction. Assuming'a corn to be the cause of trouble, itis a simple expedient to place the plaster or bandage sothat the corn isdirectly beneath the medicated tab within the 'cavity 7, and wrap theend portions of the attaching strip 1 around the toe. The waterproofnature of the attaching strip permits the user to bathe the foot andleave the plaster or bandage in position. i

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a simplefo'rmvof plaster or bandage for digits of the pressure-relieving type,which not only fits `the digit in a neat and effective manner, transferspressure to healthy tissue around an affliction, but also bringsmedicament closer to the affliction and renders a shock-absorbingservice against blows or pressure applied directly over the afiction, toa considerably 'greater extent than was possible with similar appliancesmade heretofore. Obviously, the instant invention with its improvedfeatures may be very economically manufactured, and is extremelydurable.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a surgical bandage, a body part of cushioning material havingcurvate front and rear edges and straight opening therein, a relativelynarrow attaching strip having a widened intermediate portion to overliesaid body part and carrying a pressure sensitive adhesive under surface,and a napped soft fabric plug thinner than said body part and carrying amedicament on its under surface attached to said attaching strip insidesaid opening.

2. In a surgical bandage, a body part of cushioning material havingcurvate front and rear edges and straight side edges to parallel adigit, said body part having an opening therein, a relatively narrowattaching strip having a widened intermediate portion to overlie saidbody part and carrying a pressure sensitive adhesive under surface, anda napped soft fabric plug thinner than said body part and carrying amedicament on its under surface attached to said attaching strip insidesaid opening, said body part also carrying a pressure sensitive adhesiveon its under surface and projecting beyond the widened portion of saidattaching strip at the margins adjacent `the curvate edges.

3. In a surgical bandage, an attaching strip, a pad of cushioningmaterial on said strip, said pad having an opening therein, and amedicated tab of less thickness than said pad in said opening andcomprising a napped fabric.

4. In a medicinal plaster or bandage, a relatively thick padv ofcushioning material having an opening therein to receive an affliction,means to attach said pad to the body of a user, and a tab thinner thansaid pad compris- Ving a napped fabric carrying medicament on the lowerface thereof and disposed in said opening.

5. Ina medicinal plaster or bandage, a pad of cushioning material havinga cavity therein to receive an aiiction, means to attach said pad to thebody of a user, and a tab of napped fabric thinner than said pad in said.cavity and carrying a medicament exposed on the under surface of saidtab.

6. In a medicinal plaster or bandage, a pad of cushioning materialhaving a cavity therein to receive an aiiction, means to attach said padto the body of a user, and a tab of napped fabric thinner than said padand disposed in said cavity with the napped side uppermost, said tabcarrying a medicament exposed to the afliction on the opposite side ofsaid tab.

7. In a medicinal plaster or bandage, a pad of cushioning materialhaving a cavity therein to receive an affliction, means to attach saidpad to the body of a user, and a tab of napped fabric thinner than saidpad and disposed` in said cavity with the unnapped side of the fabricuppermost, said tab carrying a medicament on the napped lower lsidethereof to contact the atiliction.

8. In a medicinal plaster or bandage, an elongated thin waterproofattaching strip carrying pressure sensitive adhesive on'its under face,a pad of cushioning material having an affliction receiving cavitytherein and an adhesive under face carried by said strip, and a fabrictab heavily napped on the upper side in said cavity against the adhesiveon said strip to koverlie the affliction received in said cavity, saidtab being thinner than said pad and carrying a' medicament exposed onits under surface.

N0 references cited.

